Heart Attack Symptoms & Risks

Treating heart problems in Bakersfield

Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. According
to the American Heart Association, each year heart disease kills almost
half a million people. Currently, more than 17 million Americans have
a history of heart attack or chest pain and roughly 1.3 million people
will suffer a first-time or recurrent heart attack this year. But there’s
good news: Between 1996 and 2006, the death rate from heart attacks decreased
36.4 percent.

Responding to chest pain

Sometimes intense heart attacks happen suddenly. However, most heart attacks
begin with mild chest pain or discomfort. The key is to know the early
symptoms of a heart attack and get help as soon as possible.

The symptoms of a heart attack include:

Pressure and/or pain in chest

Pain in arms, back or stomach

Pain in the neck or jaw

Difficulty breathing

Feeling lightheaded or breaking out in a sweat

Remember, not all warning signs occur before every heart attack. Never
ignore the signs of a heart attack, even if they go away. Be sure to check
the time when your symptoms first begin. This is a critical question you’ll
be asked that will affect your treatment.

Reducing your risk

Although some people are more likely to have a heart attack – depending
on race, age and gender – there are things everyone can do to lower
the risk of having a heart attack.

These include:

Refraining from smoking

Controlling your cholesterol

Exercising regularly

Maintaining a diet low in fat

Keeping your blood pressure low

Following your doctor’s recommendations if you have diabetes

If you’re having chest pain, call
911 immediately. Once the ambulance arrives, ask them to take you to Adventist
Health Bakersfield’s nationally accredited Chest Pain and Heart
Attack Receiving Center.